So I'm pretty sure now that in some dimly lit conference room, thick with cigar smoke, there are a group of Billionaire tool manufacturers laughing at the ridiculous price tag they throw on multi-size sheet metal step drills. I just paid $60 bucks for a 3/16" - 1" bit.....

So now you have a wide open, crazy profit market to make a few million in.
Don't cry, join the club. Simple part, seems like lots of money.
Mortgage the family farm and jump in.
I make this type of stuff, have the needed machines paid for on my floor..... But I'm chicken and would not touch this market with a ten foot pole.
Bob

Probably should just let it pass, but.... Nothing like racist remarks to clarify things and help in World harmony. No "Chicom" yet in this thread?

Denis

Yes I would agree, would have been smart to just let it pass. I read it as a true comment, and he did not use any disparaging names that are available if he intended any racial overtones. I thinking anyone calling racist is just picking nits, which there is way to much of in today's world.
James

So I'm pretty sure now that in some dimly lit conference room, thick with cigar smoke, there are a group of Billionaire tool manufacturers laughing at the ridiculous price tag they throw on multi-size sheet metal step drills. I just paid $60 bucks for a 3/16" - 1" bit..... And it appears they have all agreed never to manufacture them in carbide, because if the bit would stay sharp for a little while, then they wouldn't be able to sell you a new HSS one for $60 when your buddy roasts your bit trying to drill a dry hole through 3/8" 304 Stainless... End rantAttachment 138534

So, just as a matter of curiosity - just what part of "sheet metal step drill" applies to 3/8" 304 stainless?????

I use them all the time. In fact, I drilled a 3/4" hole through 1/8" 304 stainless yesterday. There are other things one can do that are more fun, like picking up dog poop, but it got the job done. Oh, yea, it was a Harbor Freight bit.

I have one around here somewhere that has 2 flutes, and no steps. I got it before i saw the first step bit. It's black oxided, not plated. Wish i knew where to get another, it's terrific for thin sheet, leaves no burr and will even make smooth holes in soda cans.

I have one around here somewhere that has 2 flutes, and no steps. I got it before i saw the first step bit. It's black oxided, not plated. Wish i knew where to get another, it's terrific for thin sheet, leaves no burr and will even make smooth holes in soda cans.

It's unclear if this is a one or two flute bit, but otherwise this matches your description: McMaster-Carr

I think there's three things which make it easy to screw up a step drill:

1) it's easy to drill something too thick. Most step drills aren't supposed to be used on anything thicker than 1/8"

2) the variable diameter makes it easy to forget how slow you're supposed to be turning it. To keep SFM the same while your drill increases in diameter from 3/8" to 1", you need to cut your RPM down by more than half (62.5%)

3) as a single-flute cutter your feed-per-rev is going to be half what you'd expect with a normal drill, which many people compensate for by leaning into the feed.

Yes I would agree, would have been smart to just let it pass. I read it as a true comment, and he did not use any disparaging names that are available if he intended any racial overtones. I thinking anyone calling racist is just picking nits, which there is way to much of in today's world.
James

Drilling through anything other than sheet metal (like they do on American Chopper) is asking for failure.

It's a high speed steel drill bit, it you run it at the correct SFPM, with cutting oil, and reasonable feed, you can use it on other than sheet metal. I have used them without issue on 3/8" hot rolled.

And just to put my 2¢ in, an experienced maintenance guy from Latin America probably knows how to baby a step drill because he's used to doing something with nothing. What you need a five-axis machining center for, some of those guys could probably do with a file.

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